Amy Oshier
Newsflash: You’re not the only one tossing and turning at night. Insomnia impacts just about everyone at some point. So stands to reason, that even celebrities battle with sleepless nights.
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine defines insomnia as the inability to fall asleep. Or stay asleep. As a chronic condition, it means you have trouble sleeping at least three nights a week in a three-month period.
Lack of sleep can wreck havoc on your life, leading to anxiety, depression, difficulty concentrating, lethargy- as well as being linked to chronic diseases including type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
And no one is immune to this lack-of-slumber suffering. Here’s a look at a handful of major celebs who have spoken out about their sleep troubles.
1- George Clooney. He may be a dreamboat, but Clooney has mentioned in several interviews that he has trouble sleeping. His insomnia likely exacerbated once he became a dad to twins. But then again, being a parent in general can keep you up at night.
2- Mariah Carey. The songbird can surely throw down a lullaby, but it doesn’t help her get to sleep. Carey has said that her exhausting schedule keeps her up at night. She’s told interviewers that she has trouble both falling asleep and staying asleep.
3- Jennifer Aniston. The girl-next-door is just like the rest of us when it comes to lack of rest. Aniston has repeatedly talked about her personal experience with insomnia. She told the Huffington Post that she uses yoga and mediation to help her get some zen, I mean Zs.
4- Rihanna. What?? RiRi not getting her beauty sleep? The singer and makeup mogul says unwinding is a problem- and it leads to lack of sleep. In fact, she says she only gets 3-4 hours a night.
5- Lady Gaga. As a mega-watt entertainer, Gaga does just about everything. But sleep, evidently. She has spoken openly about several health conditions including fibromyalgia and it doesn’t bode well for getting rest.
As an added bonus, we’ll throw in one more. Donald Trump. The former president isn’t calling it insomnia though. Instead of getting the generally recommended 8 hours a night, Trump says he sleeps only 3 or 4 hours. And he likes it that way. He considers it a trait that helps make him successful.
Clearly, these people do pretty well in spite of limited rest. But experts say we are happier- and healthier- when our body gets the rest is requires.
A few tips to battling those sleepless nights: power down the electronics, get rid of any annoying lights and keep your room cool. The National Sleep Foundation finds the optimal temp for slumber is 65 degrees Fahrenheit.
One last thing, if you can’t fall asleep, it actually helps to get up and go in another room. Maybe read or watch a bit of TV to re-set your system and then hit the sack again in 15 minutes or so.
It may give you comfort knowing that some of your favorite stars are up all night, trying to get a good night’s sleep.
